Some of the Prettiest Villages in Ireland

Ballycotton

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This little village rarely gets any publicity and most visitors to Ireland will be unaware of its existence. This, of course, is one of its appeals but there are others.We went here without knowing anything about it. We were in this area to visit Ballymalaoe House which has accommodation, a cookery school and probably the most famous restaurant in Ireland. We decided that we couldn’t afford to stay here and we were too late for sightseeing so we continued on down the road for a few kilometres and found a B&B for the night.Sunville House is a renovated house within three minutes of Ballycotton Bay in East Cork. On arrival we were offered tea and scones, then we sat for awhil...Read More

This little village rarely gets any publicity and most visitors to Ireland will be unaware of its existence. This, of course, is one of its appeals but there are others.

We went here without knowing anything about it. We were in this area to visit Ballymalaoe House which has accommodation, a cookery school and probably the most famous restaurant in Ireland. We decided that we couldn’t afford to stay here and we were too late for sightseeing so we continued on down the road for a few kilometres and found a B&B for the night.

Sunville House is a renovated house within three minutes of Ballycotton Bay in East Cork. On arrival we were offered tea and scones, then we sat for awhile in the guest lounge relaxing with some of the available books. We asked about local restaurants and were directed to a pub about six kilometres away but in the end decided that we didn’t need any more food that day, so we spent a relaxed hour catching up on world events via the TV news.

Next morning we explored and as part of this, we drove into Ballycotton town. Let me make it clear that this is not particularly pretty or spectacular. During the summer it becomes a little tourist centre but in late-April it was still a typical Irish seaside village. There were few cars, only a handful of people to be seen and it had that wonderful lay-back attitude that seems to suit the Irish people.

The road into town passes a couple of accommodation places and of course, some houses, shops and restaurants. It finishes at the little harbour and we drove out onto the breakwater. Here we were in the middle of working Ireland except that there didn’t seem to be much working going on. There was only one fisherman on the breakwater so we had a short chat. He said he might go out to sea later in the day but it seemed a half-hearted idea. We were told the hilly fishing port is much favoured by deep sea anglers.

The other fishing boats were idly bobbing around at their moorings. A few gulls flew around landing from time to time on the crates stacked on the breakwater. The view back to the village was idyllic. Boats in the foreground, some water and then the buildings clinging to the low cliff. There was no noise except for the sea and the gulls and from where we were there were little signs of civilization.

Back on land there are great views over the boat filled harbour to a steep island crowned by a lighthouse. This helps shield the village from sea gales. There are cliff walks with lovely views, and inland an extensive marshy bird sanctuary. The area offers a wide variety of habitats and species. Birdwatchers are recommended to visit Ballycotton Island, Capel Island and Ladysbridge.

Close by, there are small towns and villages, castles, ruined monasteries, a living cathedral and a beautifully preserved round tower at Cloyne. This is ideal cycling and motoring country. In the area there are still undiscovered places and secret sandy bays for you to discover and explore.

In my mind Ballycotton is the nicest unspoilt fishing village in the South of Ireland, certainly in Co. Cork. The water is free from pollution and the village continues to win awards in the Tidy Town Competition. There is a very relaxed atmosphere and I think you will feel welcome.
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Enniskerry

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Enniskerry is an extremely picturesque village in county Wicklow. It is the ideal base to explore the delights of Wicklow, the "Garden County of Ireland", and is also within easy reach of Dublin.The village originally belonged to the Powerscourt Estate (see the ‘Into the South of Ireland’ journal) which was owned by a dynasty founded by Richard Wingfield. The centre of this estate was the great House, about a kilometre from the centre of the village. Enniskerry village was originally built in 1760 as a row of terraced cottages for labourers on the estate. It has come a long way from there. Today it has art galleries, gourmet cafes and a few up-market stores. It also has that laid-back feel...Read More

Enniskerry is an extremely picturesque village in county Wicklow. It is the ideal base to explore the delights of Wicklow, the "Garden County of Ireland", and is also within easy reach of Dublin.

The village originally belonged to the Powerscourt Estate (see the ‘Into the South of Ireland’ journal) which was owned by a dynasty founded by Richard Wingfield. The centre of this estate was the great House, about a kilometre from the centre of the village. Enniskerry village was originally built in 1760 as a row of terraced cottages for labourers on the estate. It has come a long way from there. Today it has art galleries, gourmet cafes and a few up-market stores. It also has that laid-back feeling often associated with successful places. And you need to successful to buy something around here. Even the original cottages will set you back on your heals.

The central square at Enniskerry is a delight. When we visited it was still possible to find a car parking spot but in the tourist season you can forget that and expect to walk from the village outskirts.

Kavanaghs Foodstore and post office is a general grocery, newsagent and post office. You also head here for 24-hour dry cleaning and faxing and photocopying. It opens seven days until 8pm.

Some of the better establishments in Enniskerry include Jenny Turner where you will find International labels as well as Irish ones in a diverse style of clothing suiting women of any age.

For lunch, Poppies of Enniskerry has been trading successfully for the last 22 years, the ownership might have changed but the concept of high quality country cooking has remained the same. Poppies offers a wide selection of vegetarian dishes- Homity pie, Broccoli and Goats Cheese Tart, Vegetable Quiche, Leak and Blue Cheese Tart. The other main courses are Poppies Chicken, Beef Lasagne, Shepherd’s Pie, and Beef in Guinness Pie. They also have some special ice creams.

For an evening meal Emelia’s Ristorante Pizzeria, on the first floor near the Clock Tower, is a good choice. While they specialise in pizza they also have pasta, steaks and fish all prepared by an Italian chef. After the main course try a meringue for dessert. They open seven days a week from 5.30 pm till late.

The other options are the Powerscourt Terrace Cafe within Powerscourt House or one of the eating places within the Ritz Carlton Hotel. While not actually in Enniskerry, the Jonnie Fox five kilometres away in Glencullen has a floor show and dancing and some of the best seafood in these parts.

The large Ritz Carlton Hotel provides one accommodation option but some people will prefer Summerhill House Hotel a superb mansion just outside the village. Other options are the small Coolakay House which has a good restaurant or even smaller Corner House where a double room will cost around 80 Euros.
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Ballinskelligs

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An often single-lane and very steep road leads from Portmagee to Ballinskelligs, a remote outpost on the Ring of Skellig. The ring is an offshoot of the Ring of Kerry but it is bypassed by the tourist buses and most of the other tourist traffic. That is what gives Ballinskelligs its greatest appeal.The route is extremely scenic particularly were it passes the wild and exposed St. Finan’s Bay. We spent some hours here and it was by far the most enjoyable part of our trip around the famous Ring of Kerry.Ballinskelligs itself is small but sprawling. The village lacks much character but the immediate surroundings are almost unique in Ireland. It is almost as if this area has hibern...Read More

An often single-lane and very steep road leads from Portmagee to Ballinskelligs, a remote outpost on the Ring of Skellig. The ring is an offshoot of the Ring of Kerry but it is bypassed by the tourist buses and most of the other tourist traffic. That is what gives Ballinskelligs its greatest appeal.

The route is extremely scenic particularly were it passes the wild and exposed St. Finan’s Bay. We spent some hours here and it was by far the most enjoyable part of our trip around the famous Ring of Kerry.

Ballinskelligs itself is small but sprawling. The village lacks much character but the immediate surroundings are almost unique in Ireland. It is almost as if this area has hibernated for centuries. The top attraction is Ballinskelligs Abbey, now nothing more than ruins. This medieval building was likely associated with a group of monks who left their home on an adjacent island in the 12th century and settled on the mainland.

To reach the Abbey you continue past the post office down the narrow road to the fine little beach on Ballinskelligs Bay. You can walk to the remains from there. Check out the beach and you can see why it has won several awards. There are fabulous views for here across the bay to the mountains behind Waterville to the west. At the western end of the beach are the last remnants of a 16th century castle, once a stronghold of the McCarthy family.

Back in the village, apart from the post office there are a couple of accommodation options. The first is the Ballinskelligs Inn which is a pleasant place with comfy rooms. They do good lunches and dinners for guests and anyone else who happens to be passing through and there is an attached deli for take-outs. The second is the Skellig Hostel which is attached to a shop and which provides cooked meals for guests. This is closed from October to Easter.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in the village is the Siopa Cill Rialaig Art Gallery on the edge of development to the north. This provides an international retreat for creative people and there are works by local and international artists, writers, composers and poets. Free accommodation and free studio space is available to those who are selected to visit here. At the end of their stay, each person is invited to donate work to the gallery. The result is a fine collection of pieces almost out of character with this isolated place. Visitors are welcome to the thatched roofed gallery to view the collection and to stop at the cafe.

This is an Irish-speaking part of Ireland so road signposting is not great for the visitor. You are fine if you stick to the main road but there are lots of small unmarked roads and lanes which you explore at your own risk.
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Adare

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Ask many people about their favourite village in Ireland and Adare will probably top the list. There is no doubt that the picturesque ruins and the thatched cottages in the main street are a delight but it is spoiled somewhat by the large volume of traffic that passes through the village on the main road from Killarney to Limerick.We were there out of season and it was difficult to find a parking space and the constant roar of trucks though the town was somewhat off-putting. I’m told that in summer it becomes impossible. Never-the-less this village on the Maigue River is a place not to be missed.Adare has become a tourist mecca primarily because of its remarkable medieval build...Read More

Ask many people about their favourite village in Ireland and Adare will probably top the list. There is no doubt that the picturesque ruins and the thatched cottages in the main street are a delight but it is spoiled somewhat by the large volume of traffic that passes through the village on the main road from Killarney to Limerick.

We were there out of season and it was difficult to find a parking space and the constant roar of trucks though the town was somewhat off-putting. I’m told that in summer it becomes impossible. Never-the-less this village on the Maigue River is a place not to be missed.

Adare has become a tourist mecca primarily because of its remarkable medieval buildings. This in turn has made it the wedding capital of west Ireland. Throw in the thatched cottages that represent the 19th-century ideal of romantic rusticity created by local landlord the Earl of Dunraven and you have something special.

The historic buildings date from the 13th and 14th-centuries. Perhaps the most impressive is the Trinitarian Abbey in the main street. This is now the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity. The original building was restored (and altered) by the first earl of Dunraven. At the other end of town near the river stands the Church of Ireland, once the Augustinian Priory and sometimes called the Black Abbey. This has been beautifully preserved and its interior is close to the old medieval model. It has a particularly atmospheric cloister.

The third attraction is the ruins of a Franciscan friary. This is out of town a little in the middle of the Adare Manor golf course. There is public access here but you need to go the golf club and walk from there. It is courteous to let the people in the clubhouse know of your visit. Then there is Desmond Castle, a feudal ruin now inaccessible to the public but very slowly being partially restored. You can see it from the main road.

Back in town the Adare Heritage Centre is worth a visit particularly for its audio-visual presentation. The tourist office is next door. Also ramble along the riverside walk and explore the attractive gardens in the main street. Good meals are available in the Blue Door, a thatched-cottage restaurant. The Wild Geese is another worth a visit. There is a particularly imaginative menu at this award-winning restaurant. Several pubs offer cheaper fare.

The village has a range of accommodation. The larger hotels tend to be expensive but there are several B&Bs offering cheaper options. The Dunraven Arms is probably the best hotel and counts amongst its guest several Irish presidents and Princess Grace of Monaco. Riversdale B&B has been recommended as one of the best.
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Birr

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Birr is a great example of a town planned around a great house – in this case Birr Castle. Most of the castle buildings are from around 1620 but the town itself was laid out in the 18th-century in the best style of Georgian planning. There are wide streets, finely detailed houses and a general air of prosperity.The town is now fully recognised as a heritage town and it revels in this classification. There are classy accommodation options, excellent restaurants and vibrant nightlife. It is an excellent base for exploring most of Ireland as it sits in the geographic centre of the country.Birr town meanders around Birr Castle which in turn is set in 120 areas of gardens. It is eas...Read More

Birr is a great example of a town planned around a great house – in this case Birr Castle. Most of the castle buildings are from around 1620 but the town itself was laid out in the 18th-century in the best style of Georgian planning. There are wide streets, finely detailed houses and a general air of prosperity.

The town is now fully recognised as a heritage town and it revels in this classification. There are classy accommodation options, excellent restaurants and vibrant nightlife. It is an excellent base for exploring most of Ireland as it sits in the geographic centre of the country.

Birr town meanders around Birr Castle which in turn is set in 120 areas of gardens. It is easy to spend half a day or more here but some time also needs to be given to the town itself. All roads converge on Emmet Square and here you’ll find the post office and historic Dooly’s Hotel, once a coaching inn. The tourist office is on nearby Brendan Street and you can get a tourist map from here that details the most important landmarks in town.

Birr has a good sprinkling of first-rate Georgian houses. You will see some of these if you walk down tree-lined Oxmantown Mall or John’s Mall but others are scattered elsewhere. Other attractions are the statue of the third Earl of Rosse and the megalithic Seffin Stone which is said to mark the centre of Ireland. Don’t miss the beautiful tree-lined riverside walk along the Camcor River between two of the city’s bridges.

Apart from Dooly’s Hotel there are some other small excellent accommodation options. The largest of these is the 14-roomed Spinners Town House in Castle Street, carved out of old warehouse buildings. Almost opposite is Maltlings Guesthouse with 13 tastefully decorated rooms based in an old Guinness malthouse. Smaller alternatives are the Walcot B&B with its four elegant rooms overlooking a tranquil garden and Stables Guesthouse which is in a full-of-character Georgian house.

Stables Guesthouse also has a renowned restaurant celebrated for its cuisine and character. On the edges of town you will find Riverbank, which is well patronised by locals and Thatch which has real old-world atmosphere and is situated inside a gorgeous 200-year-old thatched pub.

Melba’s Nite Club in the basement of Dooly’s Hotel is the only nightclub in town but there are several pubs with music spilling out their doors on weekends. You could try Craughwell’s in Castle Street, Kelly’s on Green Street or the very non-traditional Market House Tavern on Market Square.
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Ireland Journals

Some of the Prettiest Villages in Ireland

Ballycotton

Enniskerry

Ballinskelligs

Adare

Birr

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